ing of unbleached," said Miss Unity, "such as we use for the
Working Societies. Yes, it was a very fine sermon."

Mrs Bolton retired into the back of the shop, and reappeared with a boy
carrying another large bale.

"This will be the article then," she said, unrolling it, "and certainly
more suitable too. Yes, there's nothing talked of now but the missions.
Is he a coloured gentleman, do you know, Miss, or does the climate
produce that yellow look he has? Six yards, _and_ some Welsh flannel.
Thank you."

It was rather alarming to Pennie to see such quantities of calico
measured off without shape or make, and to think how far her needle
would have to travel before it took the form of clothes for Kettles.
She sat soberly eyeing it, and following the rapid course of Mrs
Bolton's scissors.

"I wish I could work as fast as she cuts," she thought to herself,
"they'd be ready in no time."

"You'll no doubt be present at the Institute on Friday, Miss," resumed
Mrs Bolton after the flannel was disposed of. "I'm told the dissolving
views will be something quite out of the common. This is a useful width
in tape."

"I will take two pieces of the narrow, thank you," said Miss Unity, "and
that will be all. Yes, I think perhaps I may go."

"What did she mean by dissolving views?" asked Pennie on the way home.

"They are coloured pictures, my dear;" said her godmother after some
consideration, "which fade imperceptibly one into the other."

"Are they like a magic lantern?" continued Pennie. "What are the
pictures about?"

"Various subjects," answered Miss Unity; "but these will represent
scenes from the Karawayo Islands. There is to be a missionary address."

"Haven't we done a lot this afternoon?" said Pennie, as they turned into
the Close. "Lots we never meant to do."

It was true indeed as far as Miss Unity was concerned; she had seldom
spent such an afternoon in her life. She had been taken out for a walk
in the mud, with rain threatening; she had talked in the open High
Street, under the very eye of the dean, with a little vagrant out of
Anchor and Hope Alley; she had of her own accord, unadvised and
unassisted, formed an original plan, and not only formed it, but taken
the first step towards carrying it out. Miss Unity hardly knew herself
and felt quite uncertain what she might do next, and down what unknown
paths she might find herself hurrying. In spite, however, of some
fatigue and a sense of confusi